Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BX9315 .O8 1721

P R E F A C E . XV Clemens abounds much in the affirmation of this truth concerning the per- fon of Chri/l, and we mayyet add.from a multitude to thefame purpop, one or more Teflimonies from him. Treating of Chrifl, as the teacher ofall men, -(his zrxi;`ayy).O he arms that he is, ®ens dv iv$p rze %ñwam i God.rn the figure or form of man; çxe trra area uch S ñxT 8 dx v2 ham 6 E wayee, 3 d,, ár;;;«v zÑ vralegç, 0-to 7.60:(wal1 Oeóç, tmpolloted, fer- ving the will ofthe Father, the Word, God, who is in the Father, the Word, God, and in the Father, on the right hand of the Father, and w Or with the form ofGod. OSra -ñ/ery todo ñ doo ' 7(T, záro irxv?r, oévc-t ereTn ¿) s on v xnv wy$v. lie is the image (of God) unto us, wherein there is no blemifl, and with all our ilrength are we to endeavour to render our film: tike unto him : This is the great end of his being the reprefentativc image of God unto us. And Stronmt. lib. ç. `O NF, wo Ede dva71.a1xl6- ßúv, cix iv b?oc, . vixdç. `O 64a, a:ÿix re z r rçitrn, nzi eZ25 i'vz, ;ÿ îáx z5hx Tait, au»oei, As God (abfolutely) falls not under de- monflration (that is, cannot perfeilly be declared) fo he doth not immedi- ately effeEI, or teach us knowledge. But the Son is wifdom, and knowledge, and truth unto as; and every thing which is cognate hereunto. For in and by him dóth God teach us, and reprefent himfelf unto us. ' Chap. 7. Upon the glory of this divine perfon of Chrill depends the effi- cacy ofallhis Offices ; an efpecial demonflration whereofis given in. his pro - phetical office. So is it well expreffed y Irenaus : qui nil molitur inepte, lib. r. cap. r. Non enim aliter nos difeere poteramus qua font Dci, nifi Magifter niter verbum exiftçiis, homo fallus fuiliet. Neque enini alias poterar enarrare nobis qua frmt Parris, nifi proprium ipfius verbum. Quis calm alien cognovit fentnn Domini ? amt quis alius ejus confiliarius fatrus cit ? Neque curfits nos aliter difecrc poteramus; nifi Magiftrum noftrum videntes, &. per auditum no- ftrum votent ejus percipientes, uti imitatores quieten, operum, faftores autels fermonum ejus fadi, communionem habeamus cum ipfo. We couldnot other- wife have learned the things of God, unlefs our Mailer being and continuing the (eternal) Word, had been made man. For no other could declare onto us the things ofGod, but his own proper Word. For who efe bath known the mind of theLord ? or who elfe bath been his counfellor ? Neither on the otherfide could we otherwife have learned, unlefs we had Peen our Mailer, and heard his voice (in his Incarnation and Miniftry) whereby following his works, and yielding obedience unto his Dottrine, we may have communion with himfd£ I do perceive that if I fhould proceed with the fame kindof ,1tteflations unto the Dotzrine of allthe Chapters. in the enfuing Difcourfe, this Treface would be drawn forth into a greater length than was ever defzgned unto it, or is convenient for it. I (hall therefore chufe out one or two Ínflances more, togive a Specimen of the concurrence of the ancient Church in the do/irine declared in them, andfoput a doe unto it. Chap. 9. In the ninth chapter, and thofefollowing, we treat of the divine honour that is due unto the perfon of' Chrifl, expreffedin adoration, invoca- tion, and obedience, proceeding from faith and love. alud the foundation of the whole, is laid in the difcovery of the true nature and caufes ofthat ho- nour: 1lnd three things are defegned unto confrmation-herein, (r.) That the divine nature, which is individually thefame ineachperfon of the holy Trini- ty, is theproper formal obiell of all divine worfhip, in adoration and invoca- tion. Whereforeno oneperfon as or can be worfkipped., but in thefame indivi- dual all of worfhip, eachperfon is equally worfhipped and adored. (z.) That it is lawful to direly divine honour, worfhip and invocation unto any perm, in the ufe ofhis peculiar name, the Father, Son, or Spirit ; or unto them al- together : But to make any requefi unto one perfon, and immediately the fame unto another, is not exemplified in the Scripture, nor among the ancient wri- ters or

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=